Ok so i'm going to Elbrus this year and am about to purchase a duffel, the only thing is I don't know what to get. Brand and Size. im looking at the First Ascent 80L and the North Face Base Camp 90L. I know both are large but if I don't get something 70cm or longer then where do I put my ixe axe? (70cm).

So my qeustion is when yo uguys go on an expedition, where do you store your axe? In your duffel? In qhich case ill need to go a large of 70cm or longer. If not I can easily get the smaller ones.

To make matters worse im also doing this trip as a part of a 4 week vacation so ill have a normal 70L backpack as well + a day bag. So the duffel will be a third bag, obviously the smaller the better.. but the ixe axe situation is my only show stopper.

I use duffles from Mountain Equipment Coop www.mec.ca here in Canada for expeditions. I take two of their larger ones which are 110L (76 cm long, $32) and 126L (87 cm long, $36). I lay my backpack in the bottom of one duffle with the straps and harness facing upward and lay all my sharps (axes, poles, pickets, etc.) on top of the pack and have had no problems. I also pad the axe with small foam pieces to prevent it from punching holes through the duffle.

for something that i have heard is bombproof, and huge enough that a 5' 7" guy can actually fit inside, you could try the fish behemoth bag. It's fabric is designed not to wear when straped to a beast of burden according to their website.

Yep, these are what I use. Been through alot over the last 5 years and still holding up strong. I typically lay my ice axe or ice tools in the bottom, and I use packing tape and cardboard to cover the sharp points. Works like a charm.

I use duffles from Mountain Equipment Coop www.mec.ca here in Canada for expeditions. I take two of their larger ones which are 110L (76 cm long, $32) and 126L (87 cm long, $36). I lay my backpack in the bottom of one duffle with the straps and harness facing upward and lay all my sharps (axes, poles, pickets, etc.) on top of the pack and have had no problems. I also pad the axe with small foam pieces to prevent it from punching holes through the duffle.

Good luck on Elbrus.

Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?

Yep, these are what I use. Been through alot over the last 5 years and still holding up strong. I typically lay my ice axe or ice tools in the bottom, and I use packing tape and cardboard to cover the sharp points. Works like a charm.

Worked great for me flying to Ecuador. I had my axe points covered but didn't protect the ends of my pickets and it held up to that just fine.

Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?

Yes, I use the X-large on Denali. It's a long bag with a low center of gravity so the sleds don't tend to tip over as much. If you don't know this already another tip is don't tie your duffle to the sled very tight. Too tight and the tension in the cord torques the sled out of shape rounding off and twisting the bottom which leads to additional frustration (not sliding straight and tipping over more often). Instead, make sure your duffle is well secured to the climbing rope and only lightly tied to the sled.

I haven't found a need to waterproof them even when they get dumped on by heavy snowfall.

Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?

Yes, I use the X-large on Denali. It's a long bag with a low center of gravity so the sleds don't tend to tip over as much. If you don't know this already another tip is don't tie your duffle to the sled very tight. Too tight and the tension in the cord torques the sled out of shape rounding off and twisting the bottom which leads to additional frustration (not sliding straight and tipping over more often). Instead, make sure your duffle is well secured to the climbing rope and only lightly tied to the sled.

I haven't found a need to waterproof them even when they get dumped on by heavy snowfall.